Hat



April 2, 1935.

Filed Aprll 28, 1934 T PA LOW making such hat.

. some period of time, the device illustrated is de- Patented Apr; 2, 1935 "UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE ap licant: 722,827

is further suggested that the cardboard blanks be covered with cloth ll,,paper, or otherwise decorated to produce any desiredpleasing. artistic. or grotesque effect. g I

The blank is formed circular, elliptical, or of other desired shape in outline, and is then subjected to a slittingoperation by the use of properly designed and positioned cutting dies to provide an annular "group of series of slits II which extend through the blank. The slits forming each series as shown in Fig. 1 are arrangedin the form of concentric circles, that is, in end to end relation in circular or endless curved form but the slits may be arranged in other forms of conic sections or in other shapes of endless lines where 15 the desired form of the crown is to be elliptical, egg, or head-shaped. The slits are relatively short compared to the length of the interrupted circle formed thereby, and are of progressively greater length from the innermost circle or series 13, to the outermost circle or series 14, and in the illustrated form there are eight equidistantly and circumferentially spaced slits to each circle with each slit being substantially the, same length as the other slits in its particular series or circle. The slits of one circle are so arranged relative to the slits of the next adjacent two circles that they are in radially oifset relation. Differently expressed each' end, say the opposite ends I! and I6 of each slit, is intruded between the adjacent ends I! and I8 of the contiguous slits of the next adjacent inner and outer circle of slits. This arrangement of slitted portions forms in addition tothe slitted portion an outer brim l9 and a flat unslitted circular top central portion 20 to the crown 2| of the completed hat.

To form the hat from the blank so slitted, the central portion 20 is pushed upwardly, that is, is displaced transversely from the plane of the blank and from the plane of the brim forming portion N. This expands or opens up the slitted material to form a lattice effect or honey-comb form of open work material forming the side 22 of the frusto-conical crown. There is formed in the distended crown a plurality of hexagonal upstanding openings 23 with adiacent openings separated by long flat rectangular strips 24. As the strips 24 are for the most part horizontal or almost so, their accumulated effect is that they provide an extensive shade area to the crown and are particularly effective in shading the head from vertically directed sun rays. In other words the openings 23 extend vertically adjacent the brim andbecome inclined to the vertical as they approachv the top of the crown but the flat strips The invention relates to a hat ofwhich the entire hat, or at least the major portion of the hat, is formed of one integral piece of material,

and the invention also relates to the method of The primary object of the invention is to provide a form of hat of either a brim or visor typ or even a hat consisting solely of a crown, which hat can be used conventionally, and which canbe manufactured so cheaply as to permit its use incidentally as a hat but more particularly as an advertising device which can be given away.

The invention features ahat which can be formed from a flat piece of semi-rigid material, such as cardboard, capable of being slitted in a simple die cutting operation to form acomplete marketable article which the user can easily distort into a'hat shape, and where the device is designed to function as an advertising article, the

providing of a flat surface tothe original blank, which can be readily printed or stamped or otherwise decorated with advertising material.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawing and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of hat embodying the invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Fig. l is a plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and illustrating the slitted blank forming the first or factory step in the method of forming the completed hat; and

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the completed hat formed by the user from the slitted blank shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating a beach hat having a perforated crown.

In the drawing there is shown part of a circular blank ID, in the instant case being a sheet of semi-rigid cardboard of a stiffness to cause the brim of the beach hat herein illustrated to maintain its configuration. In actual practice a graceful form of drooping brim has been obtained by making the blank of less rigid material and securing a chin or head strap conventionally to the brim at diametrically opposite sides adjacent its inner perimeter. While the hat may, of course, be constructed of a material which will last for signed to be sold so cheaply as to warrant its being thrown away at the end of a day's use. It

i a I which form the openings extend horizontally and are progressively onset so that viewed in plan in either the collapsed or distended positions of the crown portion the hat as a whole has a shading area equal to the entire area or the original blank. I

The hat can be used as an open-work hat and the wearer's hair showing through the openings gives a pleasing eflect. Even when made of cardboard the crown will hold or atleast substantially hold its form, but it is obviously within the scope or the disclosure toprovidea hat for the crown portion iidesired, v

After it is worn the'hat can be recollapsed back into its original flat form thus permitting ready stacking of one hatupon another and permitting an easy carrying of each hat. v 1

It .is understood that all available space, such' as both sides of both the brim Ill and the central portion 20 provide blank space available for printing, or the showing of other advertising matter and this matter may, of course, even extend across the slitted portion. I

The securing of a strap to the cardboard brim is apt to tear the same. Accordingly it is herein suggested that a pair 01' attaching clamps or buttons 25 be located on diametrically opposite sides 01 the crown. These buttonsare shown to include an apertured projection 26 which extends through the cardboard and has the ends of a fastening strap 21 secured thereto.

While there has been shown, described and pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features oi the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the hat illustrated and in its use may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the inventlon.

I claim:

1. A one-piece hat formed of a single layer of material and including an outlining brim and a crown, said crown having a flat top portion exeifect and providing a plurality oi openings extending parallel to the plane of the brim and each opening being separated from a next adiacent opening by a long flat strip or material.

13. A hat provided with a slitted portion, with the slits icrrm'ng said portion arranged in concentriclines' and m" radially staggered relation,

. with each end of each slit projecting between the ends of the two adjacent slits in the two next adjacent concentric lines.

- 4. A flat blank for forming a hat, provided with a series of slits, with the slits of each series spaced apart in an endless curved line and the slits of each series offset from the slits of the next adjacent series.

5. A hat including a flat brim, a crown with the sides thereof forming an open lattice-work, certain parts of said lattice-work comprising narrow strips of material extending parallel to the plane of the brim and adapted to engage the head of the wearer edgewise.

6. A flat blank for forming a hat, provided with a group 01 series of slits including an outer series and an inner series within the outer series, the slits of each of said series being each of substantially the same length and spaced apart in end to end relation in an endless curved line, and the slits oi the inner series being confined within the area outlined by the endless line of slits forming the outer series.

ERNEST PARIDW. 

